Free Love Bug by H.E. Goodhue

the back of a white screen.
    “My lord , Cora, how you’ve grown,” an old man smiled, his eyes wet with tears. “I never thought that I’d get to see you like this.”
    Samuel Eldritch , the first Samuel Eldritch, Cora’s grandfather stood before her, but looked nothing like the imposing images of him produced by the ERC. This man seemed loving and gentle, nothing like her father and nothing like the shadow that she had been forced to live in.
    “ You’re Samuel Eldritch?” Cora said hesitantly. “You’re supposed to be dead.”
    “Yes,” Samuel nodded , “it’s me Cora. Please come in and sit. I’ll explain everything. There is so much to tell you. So much for you to learn. I’ve missed you, Cora, missed you all dearly. I know it’s all difficult for you to understand, but all will be made clear.”
    “ You’re supposed to be dead,” Cora repeated and before she could stop herself, tears dotted her eyes as well.
     

 
    -16-
    Riots sprang up throughout the cities like mushrooms after the rain. The ERC demanded to know why Eldritch was allowing things to degenerate to their current levels, but he assured them that it was all part of the plan. Even though the ERC ultimately agreed, Eldritch could feel the noose tightening ever so slightly around his neck.
    Eldritch looked over the program and codes created by his father. Each Em-Pak was individually coded for the implanted citizen. This made it easy for the ERC to track a malfunctioned or removed Em-Pak, but it also meant that Eldritch could zero in on individual Em-Paks, possibly amplifying their effects or completely turning them off. All he would need to do is gain access to the main server located inside the central ERC building in the Stele. This feat though, was far easier said than done.
    The main server was located behind fourteen inch steel doors, security checkpoints and a myriad of other precautions that would prevent Eldritch from entering. The ERC Council themselves, hardly ever went into the main server room. So much careful planning and plotting had come down to this and all that separated Eldritch from realizing his aspirations were a few inches of steel.
    The phone vibrated and danced across the papers scattered on Eldritch’s desk, knocking a pen loose to roll to the floor. Eldritch momentarily reached for the pen, deeming it more important, but seeing that it was Captain Ortiz calling, stopped and snatched up the phone.
    “Yes?” Eldritch answered, his Em-Pak beeping with each heartbeat.
    “Sir?” Ortiz asked, “Are we on a secure line?” Ortiz was all business and Eldritch admired that. He had known that Ortiz was the right man for the job.
    Eldritch paused and checked the small jamming unit sitting on the edge of his desk. The row of five small lights flashed bright green, signaling their fulfillment of purpose.
    “Yes,” Eldritch responded, “we’re on a secure line. What is there to report, Captain?”
    “ Following riots, the Reds are continuing to crop up in small pockets throughout the outer cities,” Ortiz began. “There have been some reports of minor outbreaks in some of the more secure cities. I don’t think it will be long before there are Reds in the Stele. Perhaps, we need to expedite our plans, sir? The situation may become unmanageable soon.”
    “Agreed,” Eldritch said. “The only remaining component to the realization of our plan is to gain access to the main server.”
    “The one within the central ERC building, sir?” Ortiz said slowly. His Em-Pak chirped a few times before the tension in his voice eased. Ortiz was a soldier, knew how to calculate battle risk and what Eldritch was asking seemed impossible. “I’m not exactly sure how that could be accomplished, sir.”
    “Just continue with the Emo insurgency,” Eldritch barked. “As the Reds get closer to the Stele, make sure that you’re not far behind. By my estimation, the infection and Reds should be within the walls by the end of the